Fantasy Football Today: LAST-MINUTE Week 2 Start 'Em, Sit 'Em Advice – September 14, 2025

Main Theme & Purpose

This episode of Fantasy Football Today focuses on last-minute Week 2 lineup decisions, highlighting injury updates, key start/sit advice, and rapid-fire listener Q&A to help fantasy football managers dominate their leagues. Hosted by Adam Aizer with analyst Heath Cummings, the show zeroes in on big-name players' statuses, pivots for questionable stars, and trusted projections to optimize your starting lineup.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Brock Bowers' Monday Night Game-Time Decision

Timestamps: 00:00–03:12

• Brock Bowers is questionable with the Chargers on Monday. Pete Carroll "expects him to play," but skepticism remains due to Carroll's history of overoptimistic injury updates.

• Heath’s risk management advice:

  • "If you can, add Michael Mayer as insurance. If Bowers sits, Mayer is a top-6 tight end this week." [01:22]
  • If Mayer isn’t available, other Monday night TEs (Tyler Conklin, Cade Otton, Dalton Schultz) are desperation options.
  • Heath:

    “If Brock Bowers plays, I’ve got him projected to outscore everybody besides McBride by 3, 5, 6 fantasy points... He has the upside to outscore them by 15. How much are you willing to take that chance?” [01:42]

• Adam:

  "Usually when a coach says 'I expect him to play,' that's enough for me. But it is Pete Carroll... 70% seems high to me for the Coach Speak Index." [02:06]

2. 49ers’ Lineup and Desperation WRs

Timestamps: 03:12–04:38

• Juwan Jennings is expected to play, but left tackle Trent Williams is a game-time decision. If Jennings plays, Pearsall drops to a WR3 range, with Jennings a "desperation flex at best."
  • "If Jennings is active, I drop Pearsall down into the WR3 range, probably close to WR30." – Heath [03:59]

3. Patriots RB Room Shakeup

Timestamps: 04:38–05:13

• Patriots’ RB snaps may change.
  • Trayvon Henderson remains a strong RB2 with upside.

    “Henderson is the definition of a borderline number two running back with considerable upside.” – Heath [04:51]

  • No major downgrades yet.

4. Browns & Other Important Backfields

Timestamps: 05:49–06:45

• Browns’ Quinton Judkins will play but be on a snap count.
  • Heath: "Judkins is not in my top 36, right behind Chubb. He’s someone you want rostered, not started." [06:00]
  • Dylan Sampson is a borderline RB2, especially in PPR.

5. Pass-Catcher & WR Decisions

Timestamps: 06:45–08:03

• Dallas Goedert out: Start DeVonta Smith, top 24 WR [06:51]
• Xavier Worthy out: Smith over Marquise Brown. Concerns for Marquise Brown versus Adoree Jackson, who "struggled" last week.
• Darnell Mooney & Drake London will play, but Mooney is strictly stash territory, not a start. Pitts slides down, "should probably have him on the bench." – Heath [07:42]
• When asked about TE streamers over Kyle Pitts:
  • "I'd start the two streaming tight ends [Juwan Johnson, etc.] over Pitts." – Heath [08:12]

6. Quick Updates & Week 2 Notes

Timestamps: 08:03–08:51

• Evan Engram will play.
• Caution on Tyler Badet despite passing game talk; Heath jokes:
  • "He had six targets last week, picked up four yards. We want to do that more?" [08:47]
• Avoid RJ Harvey as a fantasy play.
• Younghoe Koo inactive; don't start him.

Listener Q&A Rapid-Fire: Start/Sit and Flex Choices

Timestamps: 08:51–12:19

• Cam Ward or Spencer Rattler?

  • Heath: "I have Rattler for 16.1 points, Cam for .8... flip a coin, or a penny." [09:21]

• Start Two (Montgomery, Javonte Williams, Dylan Sampson, George Pickens – PPR):

  • "Full PPR, start Sampson and Pickens." – Heath [09:51]

• Tony Pollard vs. Courtland Sutton (Flex):

  • "Go with Pollard." [10:14]

• Ken Walker vs. Javonte Williams:

  • "Javonte." – Heath [10:22]

• Two in non-PPR (Chubb, Swift, Stevenson):

  • "Definitely Swift, and I will go with Chubb." [10:31]

• Two WRs non-PPR (Coleman, TMac, Olave):

  • "Definitely TMac." (Adam adds: "I'll go Olave.") [10:37]

• Montgomery or Henderson (Full PPR):

  • "Henderson." [10:47]

• RJ Harvey & Drake London for Rashi Rice & Trey McBride – trade:

  • "I like that deal... If you're 2-0, see if Rashi Rice is available." – Heath [11:03]

• Shahid or Tillman (PPR):

  • "I'll go Tillman." [11:21]

• Jordan Mason or Pittman:

  • "Mason." [11:26]

• Fields or Burrow, 4-pt/pass TD:

  • "Boost for Fields, but I'll still take Burrow." [11:36]

• Kayshon Boutte or Cedric Tillman:

  • "Tillman." [11:42]

• Javonte Williams or DeVonta Smith:

  • "Smith." [11:53]

• Pickens or Juwan Johnson (TE premium):

  • Depends: "If you get two points/TE catch, Johnson. If 1.5, Pickens." [11:56]

• Abuka or Pearsall:

  • "If Jennings is active, Abuka. If not, Pearsall." [12:07]

Notable Quotes & Moments

• Heath on Bowers’ risk:

  "How much are you willing to take that chance? I’m not going to sit Brock Bowers." [01:42]

• On Coach Speak Index:

  "70% seems high to me for the coach Speak index." – Adam [02:06]

• On answering deep QB start/sit:

  "Flip a coin. Don’t waste a quarter on it. See if you have any pennies lying around." – Heath [09:21]

Important Timestamps

• Injury/actives update and Brock Bowers: 00:00–03:12
• WR/TE pivot advice: 03:12–04:38, 06:45–08:03
• Browns RBs and Judkins snap count: 05:49–06:45
• Listener Q&A Rapid-Fire: 08:51–12:19

Summary

This week's FFT Express keeps the advice tight and actionable, with a focus on the pressing decisions for Week 2. The big storyline is Brock Bowers’ Monday night question mark and risk management. Key RBs and WRs are discussed for pivot options, with lots of clarity on how to handle injuries and last-minute lineup updates. The Q&A segment provides personalized answers and reveals the depth of expertise in tackling fringe start/sit debates and roster management. The banter between Adam and Heath is practical, data-driven, and occasionally tongue-in-cheek, making it both informative and entertaining for managers looking to secure those Week 2 wins.